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By Joe Gulick
Avalanche-Journal
Dirk West did not hesitate to rake referees over the coals when he disagreed with them, and he took a big shot at them in this cartoon from Oct. 30, 1984.
Three days earlier, the third-ranked Texas Longhorns hosted 14th-ranked SMU and won 13-7, but a controversial fourth-quarter play took away the chance for a Mustang victory.
On a fourth down, a Texas cornerback batted down a pass in the end zone and made contact with the SMU receiver. Mustang fans — and Dirk — thought it was pass interference, but the officials didn’t call it.
After 12 consecutive losing seasons, TCU, under second-year coach Jim Wacker, was having a great year. The Horned Frogs were 6-1 when this cartoon ran and finished the regular season at 8-3. The Frogs got a Bluebonnet Bowl invitation but lost 31-14 to West Virginia.
Texas Tech was 4-3 but lost their last four games — to Texas, TCU, SMU and Houston — and finished the year at 4-7 in Jerry Moore’s fourth of five seasons as Tech’s head coach.
The Aggie’s reference to Jackie’s bus ticket referred to coach Jackie Sherrill, who started slow at A&M with a 16-16-1 record in his first three seasons, from 1982-84. However, Sherill turned things around and took the Aggies to the Cotton Bowl the next three years.
The 1984 presidential election was a week away. The small print at the bottom of Moss’ election poster said it was paid for by the Boo Bird.
Previous Dirk West Cartoons
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